10
System Design and Connections
This DVD player has many interesting features that allow it to be used effectively in a whole range of audio and home theater systems.
Following the system design section the individual features of the front and rear panel will be described. This player can be distinguished
from most others in three ways. First it includes an eight channel volume control. This allows it to be used independently with nothing but
amplifiers, speakers and a display. Second, it includes full pass-through features for both audio and video. This allows it to be inserted
into an existing system with no changes to the system. Third, it contains substantial and very high quality digital audio outputs, allowing
it to be incorporated in a very high performance system. Four systems configurations are shown below.
Stand alone system
With 8 channels of volume controlled audio and video in composite, interlaced component
and progressive component, the SDVD player is a complete system. How good is it? The
volume control is excellent in the player, as good as any super high-end 2 channel audio
preamp. As a DVD player it has excellent sound. For the most discriminating listener who is
primarily interested in audio, not movies, we recommend adding PLATINUM DACs, at least
to the front channels. We have made provision for these, so that the installation is easy and
the operation remains simple. If you have balanced amps and want a balanced output player,
see the enhanced system below.
Enhanced Audio system
Up to three external DACs can be added to the player using either IEEE 1394 or the MSB Network. MSB sells a line of DACs that are
optimized for 192K operation over the MSB Network.
For single ended amplifier operation, attach the MSB Network output to an MSB DAC using a CAT5 cable. Now attach the single ended
analog outputs of the DAC to the appropriate channel analog inputs on the back of the player. Now plug a DB-25 to RCA cable (availible
from MSB) into the 5.1 Line Level outputs of the player. This output is line level and contains all the channels. Plug in the RCA outputs
to either the audio pass-through on the DAC or the Audio inputs on the player as appropriate. Turn the SELECT toggle switch on the back
of the player to the OFF position. This instructs the player to look for DVD audio on the input during play, instead of from the internal
DACs. For example, if a Platinum LINK II DAC is used with the player, the hookup is as shown below. The rear, center and sub channels
pass out of the DB-25 line level output and are looped to the rear, center and sub channel inputs on the back of the player. The front
channels are plugged into the PLATINUM using a RCA to XLR adapter (as the platinum only has balanced inputs). It was designed to use
this adapter for single-ended output. The toggle switch is turned OFF so that the player looks to the 8 channel input instead of the internal
DACs for audio from the player. We must make the analog connection through the DAC because the PLATINUM DAC does not decode
SACD. It passes the SACD through when played. Last, disable the volume controls in the external DAC by removing the volume modules
or setting the level to 0 db and putting tape over the remote sensor as the player and DAC use the same remote codes.
For front channel balanced operation, the task is complicated just a little. Because the volume control in the player is single-ended, the
MSB PLATINUM MVC Preamp is used externally. It is configured at the factory to run in the slave mode and is attached to the player using
the MSB NETWORK. It now matches the master volume set at the player. Just as in the single-ended mode, the external DAC is attached
to the MSB NETWORK. The balanced line level output is attached to the analog input of the DAC. The balanced output of the DAC is
hooked up to the balanced input of the MVC and its balanced output is connected to the front amplifiers. The remaining channels can be
hooked up as described above.
For stereo operation only, the process is
simplified. Connect the balanced line level out
and the MSB NETWORK to the PLATINUM
DAC. Connect the DAC directly to your
amplifiers using either single-ended or balanced.
Use the volume control in the DAC as they use
the same remote codes. Ignore the volume
settings on the player as they are not used.
Super DVD Audio Player
with Master Volume Controls and
Trims
Audio
Out
Video
Out
AMPs
Display
Outboard
DAC
Audio
Out
Video
Out
Line
Level
Front
Output
(XLR)
MSB
Network
Digital
Output
(CAT5)
AMPs
Display
Super DVD Audio Player
with Master Volume Controls and
Trims
MSB
Network
Input
(CAT5)
Audio
In
(XLR)
5.1 Line
Level
Output
(DB25)
Analog
Audio
Inputs
(RCA)
DAC
Analog
Outputs
(RCA)